Was this the busiest weekend of top-class downhill and freeride action ever? While the French Alps played host to the icy carnage of the Megavalanche Alpe d’Huez, over the pond it was the turn of the stars of slopestyle to clash at the Claymore Challenge. It was also national champs weekend for both the UK and US. Missed any of the action? Here are the highlights…
Claymore Challenge
Reigning champ Brandon Semenuk (Trek) walked away with the gold at Highland Mountain Bike Park near Boston but it was a close-run thing, with some super-technical tricks thrown into the mix. The standard was so high that Sam Pilgrim (NS) nailed the first backflip drop in competition and only placed fourth. Check out the top three runs below, along with the Teva Best Trick highlights.
Brandon Semenuk’s winning run:
Source: VitalMTB
Brett Rheeder’s runner-up run:
Source: VitalMTB
Martin Soderstrom’s third place run:
Source: VitalMTB
Teva Best Trick comp:
Source: Pinkbike
You can watch the full replay on the FMB World Tour website. There are some great image galleries on VitalMTB and Pinkbike.
Megavalanche
At the Mega, downhill legend Nico Vouilloz (Lapierre) looked like he had the win in the bag until a mechanical robbed him of his 45-second lead. Fellow Frenchman Remy Absalon (Commencal) crossed the line first, with his compatriot Nicholas Lau (Cube) 50 seconds back and Dan Atherton (GT) in third.
Anne-Caroline Chausson (Ibis) dominated the women’s race, finishing 3:50 ahead of Tracy Moseley (Trek), with Anka Martin (Santa Cruz) third. We’re still waiting for the first finals videos to roll in so here’s some action from qualifying, courtesy of the Dudes of Hazzard…
Source: Liam Moynihan / Dudes of Hazzard on Mpora
British Cycling National Downhill Championships
The Athertons dominated the British DH champs at Moelfre, Wales, with Gee taking the men’s win and Rachel the women’s. Josh Bryceland finished second, ahead of Santa Cruz Syndicate teammate Steve Peat. Manon Carpenter (Madison-Saracen) was the second fastest woman, and the only other female elite to start the race. Full results here. Check out the highlights below, courtesy of Ride.io.
Source: Ride.io
USA Cycling Mountain Bike Gravity National Championships
It was a Trek World Racing one-two at Beech Mountain, North Carolina, with Aaron Gwin and Neko Mulally topping the men’s downhill podium. Third place went to Eliot Jackson (Yeti). Jacqueline Harmony took the women’s win, with a near 10-second lead over Melissa Buhl. Jaime Rees came home third. Full results on VitalMTB.
Mulally and Buhl may have had to settle for second place in the DH but they were both victorious in the dual slalom. Blake Carney, Brian Buell and Cody Kelley made up the rest of the men’s podium, while Katie Holden, Jackie Harmony and Katelyn Parhiala completed the women’s top four. Check out the highlights below, courtesy of The Gravity Soul.
Source: The Gravity Soul